GRIMM tales indeed. This is one where Hansel (Scott Turnbull) is eaten by the witch (Pat Dunn)… and before the interval as well. So there’s still plenty of time for Gretel (Lisa McGrillis) to, hopefully, resurrect her slightly digested brother and save the day.

A busy cast takes this familiar children’s story and adds an amusing and cleverly considered North-East flavour.

The witch becomes The Beast Of Kielder Wood and has been feasting on children snatched from Tyneside, Wearside and Teesside for centuries.

Stephen Sharkey’s witty interpretation provides a whiteclothed female figure of The Moon (Victoria Elliott) dangling from a trapeze, who does her best to help Hansel and Gretel after they run away from their pregnant and evil-tempered Stepmother (Libby Davison in fine fettle). Their hapless Father (a sleepwalk for the talented Tony Neilson) can’t follow after being widowed again when the baby is born.

Director Erica Whyman cleverly fills the stage with Nymphs, just think of an evil version of the Woodcraft folk, who encourage the children to depart and then assist The Beast in their capture, imprisonment and consumption.

The headstrong Gretel, with McGrillis showing a remarkable head for heights as she clambers about The Beast’s goodie-festooned caravan, curbs her temper to gain the support of Saint Nicholas (Steve Hawksby) and realises that seemingly nasty Blackie the Cat (Laura Norton) is really another enchanted little girl, Susan.

Dunn’s required display of consummate evil while attempting to turn Gretel to the dark side, is all the more remarkable when you learn she’s performing with a broken arm, having fallen during one of the production’s two big dance routines.

Here lies the only undercurrent of unrest. The grass-like hump of stage area is echoey and sometimes distracts. There’s also a long running time, two and a half hours including the swift interval, with no audience participation until near final curtain as the family-friendly tale unfolds. So some little ones did get a bit fidgety.

That’s a pity when Neil Murray’s designs blend so neatly with Ian Scott’s lighting, Tim Dalling’s traditional music and Debbi Purtill’s choreography.

But you can’t argue with writer Sharkey’s recreation of this ancient fireside entertainment which pits innocents against pure evil and touches on every parent’s nightmare, a lost child.

So, of course, you want to know if Hansel survives being swallowed like a python’s prey? Only Northern Stage can reveal this tasty treat.

■ Until January 10. Box Office: 0191-230-5151 northernstage.co.uk